Tony Luke Finds Living at Dockside Like a Vacation Every Day

We love our Dockside residents – and we love when they love us back! We always enjoy sharing stories about our residents and their experiences here – and this is one of our favorites.

Tony “Luke” Lucidonio Jr. has called Philadelphia “home” his entire life. Though he’s traveled the world – opening restaurants, performing in films, appearing on TV shows – the South Philly native and owner of the world-famous Tony Luke’s restaurants has never felt more at home then he has since moving here to Dockside! “Living here is absolutely amazing,” Tony said enthusiastically. “I was hooked from the moment I got here!”

“The greatest thing about Dockside is how it allows you to live in the city, without feeling like you’re in the city,” Tony explained. “It’s like you’re on vacation every day, living in a luxurious hotel. If you’re someone like me who travels a lot, there’s no better place in the world than living here. There is always someone here to take care of things. We have incredible twenty-four-hour security, our mail is taken care of, there’s no maintenance to worry about.”

Tony Luke at one of his world-famous restaurants

Tony was living in another Philadelphia high-rise condo building, but something about Dockside kept tugging at him. “There was just something about this building,” he shared. “Every time I passed by, it was like it was calling me to go in and look at it. I also have a lot of friends who lived here and always talked about it. So, one day when my lease at the old place was running out, I went to check it out – and I was completely blown away. I looked at a few other places in the city, but I always came back to this building. It doesn’t look like anything else in the city. A lot of condos say they’re on the water, but you’re really just along the water. Dockside is actually built over the water. It feels like you’re on a ship. Everywhere you look, you see water.”

At Dockside, you’re surrounded by water… and some of the city’s best views

At Dockside, you can choose from spacious two- and three-bedroom condominium homes in a variety of floorplans, with prices that start from the $400,000s. We also offer units for short-term rentals. Homes feature expansive private terraces, designer kitchens with high-end appliances and granite countertops, in-unit washers and dryers, hardwood floors, and generous storage space. Tony talked about his condo – and some of the building’s amazing amenities.

“It could not be more perfect for me,” he said. “The layout is incredible. It has a very warm feel and the view is absolutely spectacular. I have a nice-size kitchen, the master bedroom is very large, and second bedroom is also a nice size – I use it for an exercise room. The Club Room is an amazing common area for residents to gather. People go there to watch sports or movies. I’ve used it more than a few times to host parties. And the giant outdoor terrace is the best spot in the city to watch the fireworks on the river.”

Tony Luke with the Messlords

While Tony travels away from Dockside for work and other entrepreneurial adventures around the world, there’s one experience that is particularly close to his heart. He is part of a group known as the Mess Lords, a group of chefs from all over the country who entertain and cook for U.S. troops. “I’m truly blessed and honored to be part of this group,” Tony shared. “We donate our time to travel to different Navy bases and ships, to cook for the troops. It’s a great feeling to be able to bring them a little flair and fun of home. We cook for anywhere from five hundred to five thousand per shift! It’s indescribable. Meeting and talking to these military men and women – people don’t always recognize what an amazing sacrifice they make every day, putting their lives on the line to preserve our way of life. They deserve every accolade in the world!”

No matter where he goes, Tony Luke always loves returning home to Dockside – and we love having him here! “When I love something, I yell about it from the top of my lungs!” he said, laughing. “This place has been unbelievably kind and generous to me. Everything about it is residential and guest-friendly. The staff is amazing and so accommodating. While the homes and the views are fantastic, in the end, the people are the reason I stay here. I’m always made to feel incredibly welcome. It’s like having a huge, extended family.”

We feel exactly the same way, Tony – thanks for the love and good words!